Or a pub - the task, at first glance, is completely simple. Despite its apparent simplicity, many Russian tourists make mistakes or are simply lost when trying to find the right phrase. As a result, the majority simply translates what they want to say verbatim from Russian. This is called “tracing” and in most cases puts waiters, bartenders, cashiers and other service personnel into a cultural stupor.
The first thing a Russian tourist in an English-speaking country should learn is that literal translation is his worst enemy. In addition, even if a tourist had straight A’s in English at school, he will hardly be able to freely explain what exactly he needs without learning a number of useful phrases, which will be given later in this article.
How to call a waiter?
Let's say a tourist has received his order, emptied his plate, and is now about to ask for the bill. Before you rack your brains over the phrase “Can I have the bill?” in English, in a restaurant you need to attract the attention of the wait staff. The tourist recalls how he would do this in an ordinary Russian cafe:
- Young woman! Can I see you?
Then, if the tourist did not look into the phrase book and did not learn the corresponding phrases, he will certainly translate his version, familiar to Russian cafes, literally:
- Girl! Can I have you?
After which he will be puzzled for a long time and with concentration why the waitress was offended/angry/crying/slapped him in the face, and he was rudely thrown out of a decent establishment.
The fact is that the above phrase is in no way suitable for communicating with service personnel in a restaurant or cafe. Moreover, the only group of people for whom rough treatment of a girl is applicable are women of easy virtue. This is why tracing is the worst enemy of the tourist.
You should contact waiters or waitresses using one of the following options, depending on the situation:
- Miss.
- Madam (M"am).
- Mister.
To attract the attention of the service personnel, you do not need to contact them at all - you can simply raise your hand.
Let's assume that the tourist managed to attract the attention of the waiter and did not find himself thrown out of the establishment with a demand not to return to it again. To ask for a bill in a restaurant in English, he can use one of several phrases of varying degrees of politeness.
If a traveler has not sat down with an English textbook for many years, an easy-to-remember remark will help him:
- Bill, please.
If he really had an A in this subject, and some knowledge from school was retained, he may well show politeness and good manners and ask for a bill at a restaurant in English, using a more complex, but more cultural phrase:
- Can I have the bill, please?
- Can I please have the bill?
If a tourist for some reason does not use these phrases, for example, he forgot what the English translation of the word “bill” in a restaurant is, he may well use another phrase that does not contain a direct request:
- I would like to pay now, please (I would like to pay/pay now).
In addition, he will certainly receive a bill if he asks how much his order costs.
- How much does it cost?
To ask for a bill in English in a restaurant or cafe, the following option is a little more familiar:
- How much is the total (How much does it all cost)?
In addition, the tourist may ask how much he owes. In English there is a phrase for this, almost similar to Russian:
- How much do I owe you?
From these phrases, it is quite possible to choose only the ones you like, but it will be much more effective to learn them all. Just in case.
Having received the invoice, the tourist will certainly study it carefully. And it is possible that he will find an error or inaccuracy in it, which he will definitely want to report.
Of course, in English.
- I think/guess/believe the bill is added up wrong (I think/it seems to me that there is a mistake in the bill).
This expression is appropriate if the traveler had an A not only in English, but also in mathematics, and he is absolutely sure that there is something wrong with the score. If he is not sure, and there is no calculator at hand, you can formulate your claim more politely - in the form of a question:
- Is it just me, or the bill is added up wrong?
Or even more politely:
- Are you sure the bill is added up right?
Such a claim is not considered offensive or rude in cultural institutions. This only means that the tourist wants to check everything again, so any waiter will readily explain what the tourist is going to pay for.
How to pay in a company
A traveler may well dine not alone, but with friends.
If these are not very close friends of different social status, and on the common table expensive lobsters are side by side with cheap vegetable salad, the following phrase will come in handy:
- We are paying separately.
Each person present will receive a separate bill, and guests will not have to pay for someone else's lobster.
If the company is friendly and everyone eats about the same thing, the bill can be divided:
- Let's split the bill (Let's pay equally).
If one person has more green bills in his wallet than his companions, he may well show a gesture of goodwill and pay for everyone:
- I "m paying for everything (I pay for everything / I pay for everyone)!
If you do not want to remain in debt to anyone, offer to pay for yourself:
- Let me pay my share (Let me pay my share).
By the way, when trying to impress your companions (or companion), you can use the following phrase:
- Put it on my bill, please.
How to ask for a check
To receive a check, you can use a phrase very similar to the one used to ask for an invoice.
- Check, please (Check, please).
The more polite option is slightly different:
- Can I get the check, please?
In general, asking for a check or bill at a restaurant does not require any particularly complex phrases.
Summing up
Asking for a bill in English in a cafe or restaurant is not difficult. If you learn the appropriate phrases, practice at home in front of a mirror and try not to worry, you can make a good impression on others, not lose face and enjoy visiting a cafe or restaurant. It is important to remember that you should not copy phrases from Russian and do not hesitate to ask for help if necessary.
We continue the lessons of the series “ English for travelers" Do you have little knowledge of the language, but need to travel abroad? We suggest using the services of our convenient phrasebook. It contains the necessary phrases on the most popular everyday topics, and today’s material will tell you how to correctly compose a dialogue in a restaurant in English. The topic is undoubtedly important, because, as the famous aphorism says: lunch always takes place as scheduled! Let's look at what dishes are on the menu in English, how to book a table in advance, what expressions to use when communicating with the waiter, as well as many other nuances of visiting cafes and restaurants.
Before moving on to the dialogues, you need to learn useful words and phrases in English on the topic " going to a restaurant" This section presents the vocabulary used to describe restaurant menus in English.
To place an order for food and not be disappointed in your choice, you need to study the menu, understand what a given dish is and familiarize yourself with the prices. You can find menus in English in most countries of the world. It has a standard structure consisting of several sections:
- aperatif - aperitif;
- starter, the first course – first course, soup;
- dish of the day - dish of the day;
- main courses (entrees ) - Main dishes;
- side dishes – additional side dishes;
- hot appetizers - hot appetizers;
- cold platter – cold snacks;
- salads – salads;
- desserts - Dessert;
- snacks – snacks;
- sauces – sauces;
- hard drinks - strong alcohol;
- low-alcohol drinks – low-alcohol drinks;
- soft drinks - soft drinks;
- wine list- wine list
Using the table, we will look at the English names of popular dishes and drinks.
| The first course | |||
| onion soup | onion soup | vegetable soups | vegetable soup |
| mushroom soup | mushroom soup | tomato soup | tomato soup |
| cream soup | cream soup | soup of the day | soup of the day |
| Main courses | |||
| beefsteak | steak | goulash | goulash |
| stew | canned stewed meat | fish and chips | fish and potatoes |
| roast chicken/pork | fried chicken/pork | spaghetti | spaghetti |
| shepherd's pie | meat casserole with mashed potatoes | sausage and mash | sausage and mash |
| Side dishes | |||
| roasted vegetables | baked vegetables | rice | rice |
| baked potato | baked potato | mashed potatoes | mashed potatoes |
| Salads | |||
| Caesar salad | Caesar salad | Caprese salad | Caprese salad |
| garden fresh (mixed) salad | a fresh vegetable salad | Greek salad | Greek salad |
| Dessays | |||
| cheesecake | cheesecake | ice cream | ice cream |
| fruit salad | fruit salad | pudding | pudding |
| pancakes | pancakes | trifle | sponge cake with cream and wine soaking |
| Drinks | |||
| cognac | cognac | liqueur | liquor |
| champagne | champagne | cocktail | cocktail |
| coffee | coffee | tea | tea |
| juice | juice | mineral water | mineral water |
A large vocabulary on the topic of food, names of drinks and dishes in English with translation is presented in a separate article. Now let’s move on to studying expressions that will help us build a dialogue in cafes and restaurants in English.
Dialogue in a restaurant in English - examples of conversations for various situations
This part of the material contains standard phrases for waiters and visitors to the establishment, with the help of which dialogue in English is built in a cafe or restaurant. In addition to speech clichés, for each situation we will give an example of a full-fledged dialogue. Using it as a sample, you will be able to establish communication with staff and resolve any issue that concerns you.
Booking
If your trip has just begun and you have enough time, then before going to the restaurant you need to pre-book a table. To do this, you need to contact the administrator and list your wishes: what time do you plan to visit the establishment and how many people will come with you. The following phrases will help you place an order for a table:
- I 'd like to book a table for...(tonight, tomorrow) — I would like to reserve a table for...(tonight, tomorrow, etc.);
- I'd like to make a reservation, please — I would like to reserve a table.
- I’d like a table for… — I would like a table for ... (persons);
- Can you fit us in at…(7, 7.30) — Could you please book us for...(seven o'clock, 7.30, etc.)
- Smoking/non-smoking — To the smoking/non-smoking room
Let's look at what a preliminary recording looks like using a complete dialogue as an example.
| Hello! I'd like to make a reservation, please. | Hello, sir! What day do you want to come? What time? |
| Hello! I would like to make a reservation. | Hello, sir! INWhichdayYouwant tocome? What time? |
| Tomorrow evening at seven thirty. | And for how many people? |
| Tomorrow evening at 7.30 | How many people will there be? |
| I’d like a table for six. | Smoking or non-smoking ? |
| I need a table for 6 people. | In a smoking or non-smoking room? |
| Smoking, please | For what name should I make the reservation? |
| For smokers. | Whose name should I put the reservation in? |
| Kevin Colton. | Mr Kolton, we will be expecting you tomorrow at seven thirty. |
| Kevin Colton. | Mr. Colton, we will be waiting for you tomorrow at 7.30. |
| Thank you! | Thank you for calling. Good bye! |
| Thank you! | Thank you for calling. All the best! |
Visiting a restaurant
As a rule, when entering a restaurant you are greeted by hostess which will ask: did you register order on the table or decided to come in just now. In any case, this employee will clarify all the circumstances and try to find a free and comfortable table for you. Depending on the situation, you can use the appropriate expressions given in the table.
- Hello! Do you have any free tables? — Hello, do you have any tables available?
- I have a reservation at… — I have a table reserved for...
- We do not have a reservation. We’d like a table for three, please — We don't have any reservations. We'd like a table for three, please.
- Could we have a table by the window? — Could you provide us with a table by the window?
And this is what a complete English dialogue between a hostess and a visitor looks like.
| Hello! Do you have a reservation? | Hello! I’ve a reservation at 7.30. |
| Hello! Have you made a reservation? | Hello, I have a table booked for 7.30 |
| What's your name, sir? | Kevin Colton. |
| What's your name, sir? | Kevin Colton. |
| Mr Kolton, your table is near the window. Please come this way. | Okay. |
| Mr. Colton, your table is by the window. Please come here. | Fine. |
| Please be seated. Here is the menu. I'll get your waiter. | Thank you! |
| Sit down please. Here's the menu. Now I'll call your waiter. | Thank you! |
Ordering dishes
The most important conversation in English in a cafe or restaurant is, of course, ordering food or drinks. To politely attract the attention of a waiter or bartender, the easiest way is to say a short - excuseme (Sorry). Then there may be two options - you order the dishes and drinks you have chosen, or you ask the waiter for a recommendation. Let's look at what phrases help build dialogues in English for ordering dishes.
- Could I see the menu, please? — Can I see the menu?
- Please bring ( give) me … — Please bring (give) me...
- I'll take... — I will take…
- I'll have... — I will…
- What are your specialties? — What is your signature dish?
- What do you recommend? — What do you recommend?
- What is this dish ? — What kind of dish is this?
- How long will it take? — How long does it take to prepare?
- Nothing else, thank you — Nothing more, thank you.
Let's consider two dialogues: ordering dishes of your choice and with the help of the waiter's advice.
| Hello! What would you like? | I’d like the mushroom soup, please. |
| Hello, what will you order? | Mushroom soup, please. |
| And what for your main course? | I'm going to have the roast chicken with rice. |
| What's for the main course? | I'm thinking of ordering fried chicken and rice. |
| Anything to drink? | I'll take a bottle of mineral water. |
| Anything to wash down? | I'll take a bottle of mineral water. |
| Okay. I'll get your order in 10 minutes. | Thank you! |
| Fine. I'll bring your order in 10 minutes. | Thank you! |
| Hello! Are you ready to order? | Hello! I’ll have the roast pork and Greek salad. |
| Hello, are you ready to place an order? | Hello, I'll have roast pork and Greek salad. |
| I’m sorry, but the roast pork is finished. | What do you recommend me? |
| I'm sorry, but the roast pork is out. | Then what can you advise me? |
| You could try the beefsteak. | Okay, I'll take it. |
| You can try steak. | Okay, I'll take it. |
| How would you like your beefsteak? | Medium, please. How long will it take? |
| How should the meat be cooked? | Averagedone, Please. How long will it take to cook? |
| It will take about 25 minutes. | Okay, thank you! |
| Approximately 25 minutes. | OK, thank you! |
Bill payment
Once you've finished your meal, you can call the waiter again and either order something else or ask for the bill. To indicate a bill in restaurants and cafes in English, two equivalent words are used: bill from the British, and check from the Americans. You can use any of them, but learn that in the American environment bill more often used in the meaning " act, project, document" By the way, in some restaurants it is customary to immediately include tips in the report, so don’t be surprised if you see the line service (service). As a rule, tips range from 10 to 15% of the amount spent.
So, you can thank for delicious dishes and ask for the bill using the speech cliches given below.
- Thanks, I really enjoyed it! — Thank you, I really enjoyed it!
- It was delicious. — It was very tasty!
- The bill, please. — The check, please.
- I would like to pay now, please. — I'd like to pay now.
- Could you bring me the bill, please? — Could you bring me the bill please?
- Is service included? — Is maintenance included?
- Keep the change. — Keep the change for yourself.
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Do you take credit cards? —
Consider the final dialogue.
| Excuse me! Are you finished? | Yes, we're finished. Thank you, it was delicious! |
| Sorry, are you finished? | Yes, Wefinished. Thank you, it was amazingly delicious! |
| Would you like desserts? | No, thanks. Can we have the bill, please? |
| Would you like some desserts? | No, Thank you. Can we please have the bill? |
| Sure. I'll bring it right now. | Is service included? |
| Certainly. I'll bring it now. | Is maintenance included? |
| Yes, it is. | Do you take credit cards? |
| Yes. | Do you accept credit cards? |
| Sure. | Thanks for the good service! We'll come again! |
| Certainly. | Thanks for the good service! We will come again! |
| Thank you! Hope to see you again. | Have a nice day! |
| Thank you! We will be glad to see you again. | Have a good day! |
With the help of this educational material, your trip to foreign cafes and restaurants will be much more comfortable. Interesting travels and bon appetit!
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The main rule of financial etiquette is “he who invited, pays.” But not all situations fall under this rule, so let's consider several scenarios.
1. Should a girl offer to split the bill on a date?
Just ten years ago, the answer to this question would have been obvious. Today it is difficult to say with 100% certainty that either girls show their independence, or guys are restrained in spending in a European way and maintain a partnership in financial matters.
“In my opinion, if you consider a date as a romantic meeting, you should not forbid your partner to please you. You will always have time to demonstrate your financial well-being and independence. The choice, of course, is up to the girls, but I would ask the question: why?” says independent financial advisor Saida Suleymanova.
Her position is easy to understand: firstly, she is a girl who does not share European views on this issue, and secondly, she is a financial consultant who teaches how to control expenses and not throw money away left and right. But this does not negate the truth: “On a romantic date, according to the rules of etiquette, the bill is given to the man, and the man pays for it,” emphasizes Marina Sagaidachnaya, a specialist in business and social etiquette at the School of Etiquette. True, according to her, if a companion resolutely insists that she will pay for herself, then we must respect her principles and give her such an opportunity.
In general, much in this matter depends on how the invitation was made. “If a young man said, “I’m inviting you to dinner,” that means he’s paying the bill himself. If the conversation between them was carried out in the form: “let’s go have lunch,” then payment of the bill is divided equally. The girl can participate in the payment by offering to pay for the tip. This is done simply and elegantly,” explains etiquette expert Elena Vervitskaya.
In any case, girls should not go on dates without any money. “A lady should always have a sufficient amount of money with her to pay for herself if unforeseen circumstances suddenly arise,” notes Marina Sagaidachnaya.
2. What if a guy and a girl are just friends?
Experts are unanimous on this issue: everyone pays for themselves. “There is a well-known truth at work here: do not mix friendly relations with commodity-money relations,” notes Saida Suleymanova.
Besides, friends can always agree. For example, today you pay the bill, says Elena Vervitskaya, and next time it’s your friend. “The main thing is to tie a knot as a keepsake. It turns out smoothly between close friends,” says the specialist.
Moreover, if the “magic” phrase was uttered: I invite you, “then, regardless of gender, the one who invited pays the bill,” clarifies another specialist in business and social etiquette at the School of Etiquette, Nadezhda Kharlanova.
3. Who pays for the business lunch?
In business etiquette, gender does not matter, men and women are equal colleagues, and status depends only on the position, says Nadezhda Kharlanova. Therefore, if the phrase “I invite you” is heard, then the bill is paid by the same generous inviting party.
“If no one invited anyone, the parties mutually decided to hold a business meeting in a restaurant (“we can sit in a restaurant and discuss everything”), in this case, each party pays the bill independently,” says the expert.
At the same time, as financial consultant Saida Suleymanova reminds, partners are usually invited to important meetings, hoping for cooperation, so the costs are considered justified. In addition, business meetings can be written off as entertainment expenses, that is, they are actually paid for by the company. “If the invitee insists on paying on his own, perhaps this is a signal to think about what went wrong?” the financial consultant clarifies.
4. If your boss invites you to lunch, should you take your wallet with you?
If experts advise not to go on dates without money, then you should definitely take a card with you to lunch with management. Again, you need to “feel” the difference between an invitation and an offer to have lunch together.
According to Elena Vervitskaya, if lunch is a continuation of the business day, then the boss can pay for the first time. “If such dinners are repeated, we should return to the scheme: everyone pays for themselves,” she believes.
5. What to do when you can’t determine whether you were invited or just called to dinner?
“Such confusion can ruin the entire impression of dinner or lunch,” says etiquette expert Elena Vervitskaya. “The attitude towards payment should be in the air as soon as you enter the restaurant: they pay for you because you were invited, or a partner’s lunch is paid equally.”
If the waiter brings the bill, but the partner, whom you did not invite, looks away and does not try to take part in the payment, then, according to Marina Sagaidachnaya, you should do it yourself without further ado. “It’s indecent to argue about who pays in front of the waiter. But it’s worth thinking about further cooperation with such a partner,” advises Sagaidachnaya.
6. Is it polite to ask for a split bill in a restaurant?
Yes, all experts are unanimous in this opinion. It is best to inform the waiter about separate bills in advance - even when placing the order.
7. What to do when a partner tries to challenge the right to payment and overcharges the bill?
Give in, advises Saida Suleymanova. “Because our monetary behavior reflects our internal needs. Perhaps it is at this moment that your partner wants to please you or express gratitude in this way. Thank them sincerely and ask them not to turn this into a habit,” says the expert.
Of course, you definitely can’t argue and thus attract the attention of those present. “In the future, in another suitable situation, you can always compensate for this (with an invitation to a business/romantic meeting on your part, a gift, a presentation, etc.),” Nadezhda Kharlanova reassures.
8. In what situation should you refuse lunch or dinner at someone else’s expense?
You should definitely reject “I’m a treat” if your partner’s generosity causes discomfort and you feel obligated. “When you feel that something is expected of you and it’s unpleasant for you,” continues Elena Vervitskaya.
Another case in which it’s worth paying for yourself is when you want to leave everything as it is and maintain a distance with your partner, “you don’t want to transform the relationship into friendship or even closer,” adds Marina Sagaidachnaya.
But even if you refuse to accept your partner’s offer, you should definitely thank him.
9. Does paying a bill at a restaurant obligate you to anything?
Of course, a person’s consent to the invitation and, as a consequence, payment of the bill by the inviter themselves does not obligate anyone to anything. Although it is possible that if this is a date, the gentleman may think differently. “Dear ladies! You don't owe men anything. This man should be happy that he has the opportunity to spend time in such pleasant company and communicate with such a beautiful lady. And it’s the lady’s duty to look great, be sweet and charming, create a pleasant meeting atmosphere, and keep the conversation going,” says Nadezhda Kharlanova.
10. What should you do if you don’t have enough money to pay the bill at a restaurant?
Marina Sagaidachnaya from the School of Etiquette offers three scenarios for the development of events if a man on a date or a partner at a business meeting, who invited a colleague to a restaurant, does not have enough funds to pay the bill:
- Leave the table and try to negotiate with the administrator. For example, offer him to leave a deposit (Sravni.ru does not recommend leaving your passport with strangers, so it is best to use a phone for this purpose) and later deliver the missing amount.
- Call friends and relatives and ask them to send the missing amount to the card.
- As a last resort, explain the situation to the lady and ask her to borrow money. “And a lady in such a situation should be offered to split the bill. Try to do this very correctly. Make it clear that you are ready to accept his proposal for the next date, give him the opportunity to “rehabilitate,” says Marina Sagaidachnaya.
There are the following types of settlements with customers in a restaurant:
Cash;
Credit cards;
Cashless payments.
The 1st is made according to the invoice based on the completed order.
2nd: a guest, opening an account in a large bank, takes a credit card of the appropriate type and presents the card to the waiter for payment. The waiter enters the card into the computer cash register and withdraws the amount indicated on the bill.
The 3rd payment is made with the organization by concluding an agreement for servicing a group of consumers and placing an order-invoice.
The main forms of settlement with clients are mechanized and automated.
The mechanized form is carried out by issuing an invoice form by the waiter and printing receipts on an electronic cash register with fiscal memory.
Automated The use of a computer POS terminal in restaurants, working according to special programs, ensures that the waiter accepts the order, transfers the order to the kitchen and service bar, prints the bill for the guest, and monitors the work of the waiters. A POS terminal consists of cash registers and printers that are installed in kitchens and bars to print orders entered by the waiter.
The 2nd form of calculation is used as follows: waiter, (cashier, bartender) workplaces are equipped with special computer terminals with touch screens - workstations. The above-mentioned personnel are issued personalized magnetic or barcode cards.
The printed order is called a stamp.
The stamp indicates the name and quantity of dishes, the order of their preparation (course) and the specifics of preparation. The stamp also prints the order number, the time the order was opened, the name of the waiter who placed the order, and the seat number. This allows you to avoid confusion with a large volume of orders and provide additional control.
Dishes are prepared in accordance with the received brands. To control the release of dishes and goods, the stamp must be a reporting document for employees of the production and distribution departments - the release of goods and products is carried out only on the basis of printed stamps.
So, you have recorded the order in the system, thus creating it. Now the printer prints a paper copy of the order, which is called the “Preliminary Invoice”. After printing, the order is automatically sent to the main cash register. All bills are always printed in 2 copies: the 1st is given to the guest, the 2nd remains with the waiter and is submitted to the accounting department at the end of the day.
The preliminary invoice is presented to the visitor by the waiter so that he can familiarize himself with it and determine how he will pay the bill. After reviewing the preliminary invoice, the visitor selects a convenient payment option for the order (cash or credit card) and pays for it. Upon final payment, the waiter presents the final bill to the visitor along with the cash receipt.
The final invoice contains the following information:
· account serial number
date and time of order opening
· order closing date and time
· name of the waiter who placed the order
· name of the cashier who issued the cash receipt
· complete information about the order (names of dishes, quantity, amount)
· total invoice amount discount/surcharge amount
· payment information.
The final invoice can only be printed once (at the time the order is closed and the cash receipt is printed).
Who should pay the bill at a restaurant during business dinners, romantic dates or social gatherings? There is no clear opinion on this matter. Usually a simple rule applies - the one who invites pays. But situations vary, so we asked financial etiquette experts to answer the 10 most common questions that arise when a waiter brings the bill.
1. The girl was invited on a date. Should she contribute to the bill?
Ten years ago no one would have even thought about this question. Now everything is not so simple: many girls are trying to demonstrate their independence, and young people are increasingly inclined to share expenses.
Financial advisor Saida Suleymanova believes that at a romantic meeting a man should be allowed to show his generosity and demonstrate financial independence in other situations. Her position is clear: after all, as a girl, she adheres to traditional views on this issue, and as a financial advisor, she teaches clients to be restrained in spending and control their expenses. “School of Etiquette” employee Marina Sagaidachnaya clarifies that according to the rules of good manners, the bill on a date is always presented to the man, who pays according to it. If a girl is determined to split the bill in half, the young man should accept her principles and allow her to do this, the etiquette expert is sure.
According to another expert, Elena Vervitskaya, when answering this question it is important to know how the invitation was worded. If a man says “I invite you to dinner,” this clearly indicates that he is paying. If the proposal was made in the spirit of “let’s go in for dinner,” both participants in the meal pay. But the girl can always contribute by paying the tip. This should be done easily and naturally, Elena suggests.
Marina Sagaidachnaya warns that in any case it is better for a girl to go on dates with money: the lady should have some amount with her to pay the bill if something goes wrong.
2. Who pays when a man and woman are just friends?
Here the answer is obvious: the bill is divided equally. Saida Suleymanova gives advice: there is no need to mix friendly and commodity-money relations.
Friends often have an agreement on this matter, says Elena Vervitskaya. So, you can pay in a restaurant one by one. The main thing is not to forget when it’s whose turn, but close friends will always find a way, she notes.
Experts from the “School of Etiquette” remind you that in this case, if a specific invitation is made, the inviter pays for everything, regardless of his gender.
3. Who pays at a business meeting?
Business etiquette does not provide for division by gender, says another specialist from the School of Etiquette, Nadezhda Kharlanova. Therefore, the general rule applies here: whoever invites pays the bill, regardless of status.
If there was no invitation, and colleagues simply decided to discuss business over lunch, everyone pays for it themselves, says Nadezhda.
Since beneficial cooperation is most often discussed at business meetings, these costs can be considered justified. Moreover, they are usually written off for the company’s entertainment expenses, notes Saida Suleymanova. If suddenly the invited party insists on paying for the lunch itself, this may mean that the negotiations were not very successful.
4. Should you take money with you if you are invited by your manager?
Experts advise taking your wallet with you even on a romantic date, so you should definitely have it with you for lunch with your boss. Here you should also be able to separate an invitation from a simple offer to go to a restaurant together.
Elena Vervitskaya believes that lunch during working hours can be paid for by the manager for the first time. But if such dinners become regular, it is better to switch to an “every man for himself” scheme, says an etiquette expert.
5. How to behave if it is not clear whether the offer to have lunch together was an invitation?
Such uncertainty can cause an unpleasant dining experience, says expert Elena Vervitskaya. Already sitting down to a meal, each participant should know who will pay.
If you were counting on a partner dinner with equal payment, and your interlocutor, when the waiter appears with the bill, averts his eyes and does not try to get his wallet, you need to pay without clarifying the relationship, advises expert Marina Sagaidachnaya. Arguing in front of strangers about who should pay the bill is a sign of bad taste. But you should think about whether it is worth maintaining further relationships with such an unreliable partner, the expert notes.
6. Is it possible to ask the waiter to pay you separately?
All experts unanimously believe that this is quite decent. But it will be better if the waiter knows about your decision in advance when he takes the order.
7. What should you do if your business partner insists on paying for you?
Saida Suleymanova suggests conceding in this case. According to the financial advisor, people often act according to their inner needs. If your partner insists on paying the bill, he may be trying to thank you for something or just to please you.
Nadezhda Kharlanova shares the same opinion: she recommends not arguing and not attracting undue attention from others. It is better to wait for the right situation and make a reciprocal gesture: invite your partner to a restaurant, make a small present, etc.
8. When is it better to refuse to visit a restaurant at someone else’s expense?
If your partner’s desire to treat you to a restaurant causes internal discomfort, it is better to refuse immediately. The feeling that you owe something to someone can be very unpleasant, warns Elena Vervitskaya.
Expert from the “School of Etiquette” Marina Sagaidachnaya adds that you should not encourage your partner’s generosity if you want to maintain some distance between you and do not plan friendships or other close relationships.
In any case, the refusal should be polite: do not forget to thank your partner.
9. Does payment of the bill by a partner impose any obligations?
No, if you are invited to a restaurant and the inviting party pays the bill, this does not oblige you to anything. True, the gentleman who invited you (if this is a date) may have a different opinion. Nadezhda Kharlanova is firmly convinced that women should not feel awkward allowing a gentleman to pay for dinner. A lady is supposed to look good, maintain an interesting conversation, be charming and sweet. After all, it is a pleasure for a man to spend time in such pleasant company.
10. How to behave if there are not enough funds to pay the bill?
According to Marina Sagaidachnaya, the inviting party, having discovered a lack of money to pay the bill, can choose one of three options:
- Approach the administrator and try to negotiate with him. You can offer him a phone or other valuable thing as collateral (except a passport, which should never fall into the wrong hands), and bring the remaining amount later.
- Call your friends and acquaintances and ask them to send the required amount to your card.
- Tell your lady about the current situation and borrow the necessary amount from her. The lady should behave as correctly as possible and offer to split the bill with the gentleman. At the same time, the woman may hint that she will gladly accept another invitation to a date, thereby giving the man a chance to rehabilitate himself.
